Málaga

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• Vineyards ranging from sea level to 1,000 m, fostering numerous microclimates across a mountainous territory articulated by the spurs of Sierra Nevada.
• Axarquía and Montes: shallow slate soils, rugged topography and steep slopes; rainfall between 300 and 700 mm.
• Serranía de Ronda: limestone bedrock, altitudes of 600–1,000 m, high rainfall, dry summers and wide diurnal temperature swings.
• Zona de Manilva: albariza soils with a high limestone content; proximity to the Atlantic lends a cooler, more humid sub-climate.
• Northern Zone (Antequera plateau, 400 m+): deep calcareous-brown soils, gentle slopes and a more continental climate with extreme temperatures.

• Protection as a DO dates from 1932, yet the region's viticultural history begins with Phoenician colonisation in the 9th century BC.
• The practices of sun-drying grapes and the blending and ageing styles have survived since the winemaking methods described as early as 1792 by García de la Leña.

• A colour range from yellow to black; floral and fruity aromas in young wines, complex in aged ones; flavours spanning dry to sweet. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• The southerly climate preserves varietal aromas; Moscatel de Málaga stands out for its centuries-renowned "finesse and preservation of varietal aromas".

• The thermal buffering provided by the mountainous topography and proximity to the sea favours the finesse and preservation of varietal aromas, especially those of the Moscatel de Málaga grape.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the the specification.

Sources

• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-ES-A1481
• Official trade body site — Consejo Regulador de las DOP Málaga, Sierras de Málaga y Pasas de Málaga